Improvement in gun-locks



c; B. HOLDEN.

Gun Look,

No. 109.128. Patented Nov. 8, 1870.

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N. PETERS. PlWkoLiUwgr-nphen Washi nnnnnnn c CYRUS B. HOLDEN, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND ISAAC FISKE, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 109,128, dated November 8, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUN-LOCKS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OYRUs B. Holmes, of Worcester, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fire- Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawing which accompanies and forms part of this specification, is a description of my inventionsuflicicnt to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

My invention, which relates to the prevention of premature or accidental discharge of fire-arn' s, is especially designed for and adapted to that class of tirearms known as breech-loading shot-guns. It may, however, be employed to advantage with the trigger of any gun or pistol-lock, to prevent premature descent of the hammer.

The invention consists in combining, with the trigger of a gun-lock, a slide or bolt actuated by a lever and a spring, the bolt having a notch or tooth which engages with a notch or tooth upon the trigger, and locks the trigger in position so that it cannot be drawn when the lever is thrown aside, while, when the lever is brought into line with the trigger-guard, it presses back the bolt and releases the trigger there-from.

It is in such a device that my invention consists.

The drawing represents the lock of a double-barrel breech-loading shot-gun, embodying my invention.

A shows a side elevation of the mechanism, the trigger being locked in position to prevent the eX-' plosion of the cartridges.

B is a similar elevation, except that the parts are in position to permit the gun to be tired.

0 is a reversed plan, the parts being arranged so that the piececannot be fired.

D, a reversed plan, the piece being ready for firing.

At 0 and D the trigger-guard is represented as partially broken away, to show the trigger and slide.

(t denotes the stock.

b b, the barrels.

e c, the triggers.

d, the trigger-guard.

The mechanism of the lock, aside from the triggers, is not shown, as the invention can be clearly illustrat'ed without reference thereto.

Under the trigger-plate e is a long slide, 1, one end of which passes through and is guided by the triggerguard, while at the other end is a piece, g, which extends up intothe trigger-plate, and has at its rear end a notch or notches, h.

The slide is held forward by the pressure of a suitable spring, t, and when so held the notch or notches engage with a tooth, h, on the rear end of each trigger, as seen at A, and lock the triggers iu position, or so that they cannot be pulled.

In front of the trigger is a lover, I, pivoted to the stock at m, and having a bend, n, that enablcsit to be swung into line with the trigger-guard, as seen at B and D. \Vhen swung out from such line, as seen at A and (1, the slide or bolt f is free to he moved by its spring, and, engaging with the triggers, so locks them that neither of them can be moved so as to re lease the hammer and dischargethe piece. But when the gun is to be fired the lever is swung into line. with the trigger-guard, and as it approaches said line a face or projection, o, of the lever strikes the front end of the slide and presses the slide back, the triggers being wholly released from the slide or bolt. In this position of the parts cit-her trigger can be pulled and the piece discharged.

In brcech-loadin g shot-guns, whcrefthe barrels swing out to one side of the breech-block, or up above it, for insertion of the cartridges, the piece is very liable to be discharged while the barrels are moving into position, and before the cartridges are fully covered by the breech-block, the charge in such case being in part thrown toward the fowler, to the danger of his face and limbs. This invention was made for the especial purpose of obviating such danger.

The lover I may be connected with and operate-the mechanism that locks the barrels to the breech-block p, it being in such case preferablyso arranged that the barrels can only he swung into position when the lever is thrown aside, in which case, as will be obvious, the barrels cannot, under any circumstances, be discharged while they. are coming to position with relation to the lnccclrblock, because the triggers are necessarily locked by-tho lever Z. Or, in other words, it the lever is in line with the trigger-guard, and the triggers are free, the barrels cannot be swung into place.

I claim- In combination with the trigger or triggers c, slide or bolt, j; and a lever, l, the slide being arranged to lock or to release the trigger or triggers, and the locking being effected by the spring and the release by the lever, all substantially as described.

Executed September 12, 1870.

O. B. HOLDEN:

Witnesses:

H. O. Riot), Jon's M. Woon. 

